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Weekend escape in Pagbilao, Quezon for less than P2,000

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Quezon is known for different tourist spots but Pagbilao is not one of them. It isn't a tourist town. It's a quaint little gem that is a good jump off point for various islands. I headed to Pagbilao with one of my good friends Lui to finally check out his Airbnb listings. If you're looking to unplug and recharge for the weekend, this might be what you're looking for.

Lui has several types of accommodations listed and I was able to check out the hut and stayed at the attic. The listings sit on a 2,800 square meter lot giving you a lot of space to zone out and just be. The charm of the whole property is its comfortable simplicity surrounded by nature.

Attic (P798 per night for 1 person, price goes down to P467 per night per person for 8 people)I had the attic all to myself when it can accommodate up to 8 people. Mattresses, beddings, pillows and a fan were provided. I sleep comfortably in this room. I would love to come back here with a group of 4-6 people to maximize the room.

Hut (P524 per night)The price indicated above is for 1 or 2 people already. That means if there’s 2 of you, you pay only P262 per person. The space is just right for the mattress, beddings and the electric fan.

The house a lot of personality reflecting the interests and preferences of the owners. Each turn gives you a little nook to stay at. The owners used to live in Sicily so you will see a lot of Italy throughout the house.

There is no air conditioning or a private bathroom here. I went during January and the weather was just right. I am picky when it comes to bathrooms. The attic has a bathroom on the second floor and people who booked the hut have access to the ground floor bathroom. There are no showers or hot water but that is not a problem here. The entire house is well kept and very clean including the bathroom.

The open kitchen and dining room is available for you to use so feel free to bring supplies.

Make time in the morning to take photos of the pond when the lotus appears.

The property has ample parking if you plan to bring a car.

The Pagbilao house is walking distance from the port so we were able to enjoy a day of island hopping. Want to see what we did? Visit part 2 of this story!

How to get here:1. Private CarLui will give you directions to their property once booking has been made.2. Public Transportation- Buses going to Lucena are found in EDSA-Kamias (near GMA Network) and Pasay City (by the LRT Gil Puyat Station).- Ride the bus going to SM Lucena. or LUCENA GRAND TERMINAL.- Ask the bus driver or conductor to drop you off TALIPAN where you’ll ride a jeep to Pagbilao. Get off Talipan and transfer to a jeepney en route PAGBILAO.- The jeepney ride is about 20mins. Fare is P10x- When you reach Pagbilao town proper, ask the jeepney driver to drop you off the public market (palengke).- From the market you can take a tricycle or walk to the property. Lui will give you the directions once booking has been made.

Expenses (per person):My accommodations were free but you can offset this with transportation or food.P700 – Gas and tollP950 – Boat for island hoppingP300 – Food and drinksP1950 - TOTAL

Some tips:1. Bring insect repellent.2. You can lower your island hopping boat rental if you are a bigger group. We paid P1900 for our boat – and there were just 2 of us. 3. We had some of our meals at Central Sunrise in town. It is a must to try Pancit Habhab in this part of Luzon! You can lower your food costs by preparing your meals at the house. 4. Transportation costs can also be lowered. If you are a small group like we were, round trip bus tickets are P500 per person from Manila. If you are a group of 4, toll and gas fees can go down to P350 per person.

I know this isn’t for everyone. I for one am a I-need-air conditioning-because-my-skin-is-sensitive-to-heat-and-the sun kind of woman but guess what? I enjoyed myself immensely. The house charmed me and everything was spotless. I needed a break from the city and from work and this weekend was exactly what I needed. Sometimes you need to step back and simplify to recharge. A weekend with the beach, vitamin sea and a whole lot of green was the cure for this city girl. A weekend like this is what the doctor prescribed for you too.